Recent content by Laurie Grathen

Thanks guys... The last thing I said to Randy Monday morning was "be sure to wear your safety harness." Well, he had it on...just not hooked to anything. For cryin' out loud, do us women have to tell men everything? Anyway, as he was laying on the parking lot waiting for the ambulance...

Our very successful pressure washing business at beautiful Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri is for sale. More than $30,000 already booked for the season...work is just waiting to be done and paid. Randy fell from a lift on Monday and we want this thriving business to continue. He'll be ok, but...

Hey Bailey, Randy and I lived in the Sacramento/Folsom area for 12 years (Randy was in the Air Force). Are you anywhere near there? And we're from Wisconsin and you're right that it's COLD there! Come on down to the Lake of the Ozarks and we'll train you for free! Best wishes...

As a SCORE counselor and a pressure washing business owner, this is exactly how I'd price my business if I were trying to sell it--the market value of the equiment transferred and 1/2 of the last year's annual revenues. Of course, though, he and I both have to remember that a business is worth...

US or Canadian dollars?

John, We've belonged to two chambers in our area in the last four years. Those memberships and the contacts we've make because of it have been our biggest commercial account generators. You must be visible. Tim's advice below is right on. Following is an excerpt from an article I wrote...

Kevin, We invested in the school for Randy three years ago when we started this business. I can tell you that it was one of the best investments we could have made starting out. Not only did he learn about all the aspects of pressure washing, he gained a lot of confidence in being sure he...

Three years ago when we first started Randy knocked on a lot of doors and we did quite a few commercial direct mail pieces. Now, thankfully, our reputation is spreading. Our commitment to customer service is second only to safety. It also helps that we're the only truly professional...

Greg, We do quite a few condo complexes with a boom lift here at the Lake of the Ozarks. We put $1 per linear foot per story into our pricing template and it generally comes out so high even we gasp. The guys then sit down and discuss how to attack the project and estimate the amount of...

All's Well... [flag] Randy went back yesterday and, as instructed on the web site explaining extractive bleeding, rerinsed with warm water and sprayed a solution of oxalic acid. Returned almost immediately to it's normal color. So... it appears that the finish had probably failed...

Extractive Bleeding?? Ok, maybe I didn't say it correctly. Using regular household bleach (5.25% active ingredient), the guys put 1 part in to 3 parts water. It's the same mixture they've been using for 3 years to treat mold and mildew on homes with no problem. And if it was the sodium...

Washed a house this afternoon with painted masonite siding. The east side only turned a yellowish-tan splotchy color after the wash with cold water and treating with a 25% sodium hypochlorite solution. Any ideas? We're completely stumped.

I'm always around... [bp] Laurie Grathen All American PowerClean Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri

I'm st***ing into this discussion quite late because I've been on a school bus trip to Washington DC with my 12 year old niece the past week. Having no children of my own, that was quite an experience. I missed the smilies that have been deleted, but I'm sure I would have been offended by...

Didn't mean to make it sound like we went all out. It was a lot less work that you'd think. The tower, for instance was a 4 x 8 sheet of plywood, cut into thirds with 4 hinges screwed on and the felt wrapped and stapled to the back. Took about 3 hours to build, start to finish. We banged the...